From the 'expert patient' to 'expert family

A feasibility study on family learning for people with long-term conditions in Italy

Bibliographic Data

ID3643151
AuthorsMaria Giovanna Vicarelli (corresponding author), Micol Bronzini (0000-0003-2189-5889, Marche Polytechnic University)
Year2009
Volume18
Issue2
Pages182-193
Publication date2009-08-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Sociology Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1446-1242 • E-ISSN: 1839-3551
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.5172/hesr.18.2.182
OpenAlexW2037324969
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited3

The Italian welfare system has been identified as a ‘familistic’ system since the family is mainly responsible for taking care of its members in times of vulnerability. This situation seems to be a problem, not only because of the financial, social and psycho-social costs borne by families, but also because care work may be provided by the various caregivers with insufficient competence. As such, public services should foster family participation in their care-assistance plan, enhance their competences, and sustain them at an emotional level. This approach widens the notions of the ‘expert patient’. It is the family that should become competent and involved as much as possible in the care processes. One way to achieve this aim is by implementing a programme of Family Learning for people with long-term conditions. This has been the object of an innovative feasibility study conducted in 2008 in a region of central Italy. This study explored whether families are actually ready to take on the self-management of long-term conditions and which surrounding conditions are necessary to manage them

Political science · Project commissioning · Publishing · Social science · Sociology · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Family Support in Illness · Law · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology

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